Something that makes me happier

[Spoilers]

Okay, it set up the breakup of Willow and Tara, the events of them reuniting, Tara's tragic death, Willow as the Big Bad, and Xander telling the story of the girl with the broken crayon.

But hey, it's a musical, so it makes me happy. :) And I can sing with every line of it, no matter who's singing, which also makes me happy.

I've had a very good day so far

with one notable exception. From the moment I got out of bed I've been bubbly and enjoying life. The first thing I did was get a CD set of Jesus Christ, Superstar onto my laptop (it's on my desktop, but that's over at YKWIA's, as he's borrowing my computer until we can get his power supply fixed). I really wanted to listen to it on my phone at work. So I did that, realising that the reason why the last time I ripped one of my CDs there were no tags or metadata on them and they came out as Track 1, Track 2, etc., was that I'm not normally connected to the Internet at home these days. So I went on my phone's hotspot and got the information so it would transfer correctly. That took a little while. Afterwards I took a shower, got dressed, and started to leave, then remembered that I planned to go to the library after work (I have an evening to myself tonight, negotiated in exchange for staying late to make dinner and watch something at YKWIA's last night when he wanted company.) So I went back, got the computer and headed out to work.

One thing I will miss from my commute is being close enough to work that I can, on a good day like today, make the journey in the space it takes to listen to one-and-a-half songs. Then, I was inexplicably happy to see the Shred-It truck outside, because that meant my shredding bin would be emptied, and I'd planned to do some file purging and organising today, so I'd have space. I am also very happy that an orchid in the office is budding, the first time I've ever had an orchid do that (and I have four). I've never had an orchid rebloom, although they all have healthy leaves and root systems. This one was given to me two years ago by a co-worker because it was languishing in her office, which is interior, and it's now by a window and loves the northeastern exposure. She thinks it's yellow. We'll (hopefully) see soon.

The one disappointing thing about today is I got a rather nice letter from the University of Louisville telling me that they'd filled the position of solo hospital librarian at St. Joseph here in Lexington. I'd already gathered that; it had been awhile, but seeing it in actuality brought tears to my eyes. I am really worried that I will not find a job before the hospital downsizes to an ambulatory care centre, and I am out of job. Still, I have to trust that things will work out, and I'll just keep applying till someone sees that I'm a good fit for their needs. At least I got a phone interview from these folks, and they did say my application was very strong and had a lot of merit. Still, that was the one down thing about the day. But I didn't dwell on it--I have faith that all will work out eventually.

Anyway, it's been a happy day, very productive, and decent despite delving into files (filing is not my favourite activity--in fact I see it as a necessary evil). After the filing was complete I had to go through and correct several errors I had uncharacteristically made in data entry, and I figured out what sheets were involved and what had happened in each case. Apparently when my blood sugar came down to normal after we adjusted my medicine, my contacts no longer were the correct prescription, having been prescribed while my glucose was running in the 200s. Now that it runs normal to low, my sight was blurry with the contacts. I had noticed a problem with reading signs in the distance while driving, but didn't realise how much trouble I was having with close up work. Apparently I put some charges on encounters of patients with the same last name, or next to the correct on on the list I work off of. There weren't a lot, but like I said, it doesn't happen very often, so this was significant. But I credited the incorrect charges and hunted down the correct encounters, and corrected everything, now that my files were easier to navigate. After that I put in new charges, being careful to double-check my work (I'm wearing my glasses now, which are an older prescription and much clearer), listening to Jesus Christ, Superstar, and when no one was in the library, singing along. I do love show tunes. I think on my phone I have that, Wicked, Les Mis, 'Doctor Horrible', Fiddler on the Roof, Rocky Horror, and the musical episode of 'Buffy: the Vampire Slayer'. :)

After work I decided to be a little proactive for the first time in months and went to my allergist for my allergy shots. I hadn't done so since October, because life kind of got in the way. I had to drop down quite a bit to a lower phial, but I was able to get them. I can go up to three times a week, and will try to go at least two times, because my phials expire in April and that way I can at least use up as much as possible before they have to reorder them. I can definitely tell a difference in my allergies without them.

As a reward for doing that, I went to the library. It's right next door, at least for now. The Eagle Creek branch of the Lexington Public Library will be closing on February 26th for good, with the new Eastside branch opening at Palumbo and Man O'War on March 15th. It's a little further away, but not too bad, at least by car. Right now I live within walking distance of the library; after it moves, it will be doable, but a pretty long walk.

So now I'm online using the library's Wi-Fi, downloading Windows updates, and blogging. I will miss this library. The other will be bigger, and have a lot more amenities, but I like this one quite a bit. I guess we live in a time of constant change, though, as places move in the name of progress, just like work is planning on doing.

I've been here about an hour (I browsed a bit, first). It's very bustling. Later I'll go home, have some crackers and peanut butter (hopefully tomorrow I can actually get some groceries!), and do a little work on the house. I'd also like to do some reading. I do plan on checking in with my friends. I did tell them to call if there was something urgent that came up.

Okay, I think I'll do a little surfing, and see if there's anything blogworthy out there. I may write later, but if not, good night.

We had Chinese food from Jin Jin for dinner

and I got these two fortunes in my cookies:

You will conquer obstacles to achieve success.

and

Good things are coming to you in due course of time.

Typically ambiguous, but promising.

It's almost 1 am and I'm just getting home from visiting with my friends and watching a couple of shows with YKWIA ('The Originals' and 'Supernatural', plus some YouTube videos, including these:

'Spell Block Tango'


which is a Disney-inspired version of 'Cell Block Tango' from the musical Chicago:



Now I'm sleepy and it's time for bed. My doctor put in an order for a new CPAP machine for me; we'll see if they'll be able to run it through using the sleep study from six years ago or if the insurance company will want another study done. I originally went because I was afraid my 15-year-old machine would give up the ghost, leaving me unable to sleep properly, but the doctor said that with the advances they've had since then, they now have machines that can automatically adjust pressure, which would help my residual daytime sleepiness. My current machine is set at about the lower threshold of the pressure I should be getting. A new one would start there and automatically adjust up as needed. Also, they keep data stored in them for up to three years that help the sleep centre determine best options. He also wants to change my the headgear to a smaller assembly which will be more comfortable and won't require a chin strap. My machine is so old, they had to test it using mechanical means and seemed quite surprised that it was still running. So wish me luck. I did tell them I hoped I didn't need a new sleep study--I hate trying to get the goop out of my hair. I don't mind much else about them, but the goop they use to put the electrodes on your head with takes days to get out; I had a friend shave his head before having one once, but that's not a viable option for me, as I'd look silly (I have a rather flat head). The doctor seemed genuinely surprised that the goop was the stuff I found most annoying about the test. I wonder if he's every had to deal with it--he has a very full head of hair. :)

Anyway, it's time to hook the CPAP back up in the bedroom and go to bed. Good night.

YKWIA has harmed me with a video, and on my birthday no less

Silence!: the Musical

Based on The Silence of the Lambs. Yes, really, with a Greek chorus of, well, lambs. Have I mentioned that my brain really hurts right now?

Hee Hee

I present to you...

Re-Animator, the Musical

--way, way, off Broadway (actually, it's in Hollywood). For more, check out their news page.

'Funny. Bloody. Tuneful.'
'Open seating. Come early and sit up front in the "splash zone."'

It's based on the 1985 cult classic, which was in turn based on the story by HP Lovecraft. Now it's a musical. It's the first time I've wished I was close enough to return to Los Angeles for a night. (I went on a school trip in the late 70s and was NOT impressed.) :)

"RE-ANIMATOR" tells the story of Herbert West, a brilliant young medical student who has created a glowing green serum that can bring the dead back to life. What should be a medical breakthrough results in hideous monstrosities and ghastly consequences. "I guess he just wasn't fresh enough," is West's constant refrain as his quest for fresh subjects results in the murders of half the faculty of the medical school.

George Wendt (Norm from 'Cheers'), plays the dean of the medical college. Thanks to Jenny Reiswig (@bmljenny), for the link.

Okay, this time I really am going to bed. 'Night.

Huh? Okay, I like comics...

but a Broadway musical? Of Spider-Man?

Spider-Man musical to open in December: The long-awaited Spider-Man musical is to open on Broadway in December, its producers have said

Inspired by the Marvel Comics hero, Spider-Man Turn off the Dark spins a new take on the story of teenage science geek Peter Parker, who is bitten by a genetically-altered spider and wakes up with superhero powers....

The musical is reportedly the most expensive Broadway production to date, with a budget of almost $50m (£31.7m), thanks to its sprawling skyscraper sets.

Music is by Bono/the Edge of U2. I'm beginning to think they'll try to make a musical out of anything. But Marvel must be happy, as I'm sure there had to be a fee for licensing or some sort of involvement.

I always thought it sounded familiar

I was listening to the 10th anniversary concert soundtrack for Les Misérables, (aka 'The Dream Cast in Concert') and I love Lea Salonga-Chien's rendition of 'On My Own' as Éponine, (a first, as she is Filipina, and she is the first Asian actress to play Éponine on Broadway).

What I didn't know (until I looked up her in the miraculous thing that it Wikipedia) is that she was also the singing voice for both Princess Jasmine of Aladdin and of Fa Mulan in Mulan and Mulan II. But she is best known for her role as Kim in Miss Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and Theatre World Awards, the first to do so for a single role.

Here she is singing 'On My Own':


It's my favourite of the female songs from Les Mis (with 'I Dreamed a Dream' as a close second). Both songs resonate with me very strongly. As far as that particular concert edition, however, the most remarkable song was an encore in which they united those who had played Valjean throughout the world together for 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' (which, oddly enough, is not a a Valjean song at all, but still....) Here it is:

Enjoy!

I took a quiz on Facebook

called 'What Musical Are You?' I came out as Wicked.

You love so fiercely that it may be perceived as intimidating to some people. But you always stand by your convictions and causes. Nothing can stand in your way. You have few BEST friends but you are one of the most loyal friends they'll ever have. You are prone to being mistaken for mean or fierce when really you know that you're doing what's right. No one mourns the wicked.

Cool.

Listening to:

'No Good Deed' from Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast) [Thank you to YKWIA, who's been playing the songs for me. I definitely want to read Maguire's book, too.] I so relate to Elphaba (whose name is taken from L Frank Baum's initials eL-Fa-Ba).